PR 36702
10 April 2015

Maximise floor strength with Norbord

Pictured are Norbord's flooring adhesives

Given that today's architects and designersdemand quality, intelligentmaterials andsystems to ensure that the resultant buildings meet stringent Building Regulations, manufacturers need to ensure they are doing their very best to develop them in a competitive market.

Oneof the biggest challengesgovernsthe transmission of noise in buildings (Part E)so thechoice of flooring system is crucial.The upper floors of most houses are of timber construction comprising engineered timber or metal-web joists supporting a deck of tongue-and-groove particleboard flooring panels. To help designers and contractors meet the requirements of Part E, there are several approved designs(known as ‘robust details')that will deliver the sound absorption required and meet all other Building Regulations.  Old-fashioned softwood floorboards don't offer that degree of consistency.Hence,particleboard flooring is by far the most popular material for suspended timber floorsand the only homes to use traditional floorboardsnoware bespokeorself-build homes.

Particleboard is acost-effective,highly-engineered panelfor flooring;and is designed to last the age of the home.  It's important that the builder gets the installation right first time as one of the most common snagging problems in new homes is squeaky floors.

Timber floors will flex very slightly under load and are designed to accommodate that. Yet, if there is any differential movement between adjacent boards or between boards and joists, the resulting friction will generate squeaks and creaks. The culprit is the tiny movement of the floor board up and down the shank of a loose nail or screw as somebody walks across the floor. This is why, designers are increasingly specifying adhesive-based floor systems that create a permanent yet flexible bond between the joist and the flooring panel.

Norbord's Caberfix system has been developed especially for commercial large-scale developments and comprises the company's premium moisture-resistant Caberdek particleboard panels with a specially-formulated adhesive designed to bond the panels to the supporting joists. Adhesive systems like Caberfix require minimal mechanical fixing as it is the adhesive that secures the panel to the joist. Caberfix, therefore, requires just five nails per board (compared the usual 17 needed to fix each traditional panel). The nails are only required to hold the board in position while the adhesive cures and they play no fixing role at all. A crucial feature of the system is that the adhesive itself, a polyurethane formulation, remains slightly flexible when cured so that the natural flexing of the floor is accommodated without the bond breaking. The flexibility also has a cushioning effect which reduces the transmission of impact noise through the floor to the space beneath.

One the most significant benefits of modern particleboard systems such as Caberdek is that the floor can be installed and then used as a safe working platform very early in the build process. This is because the boards are finished with a durable, waterproof film that protects the surface of the floor from the elements before the roof of the building is on.In the case of Norbord's Caberdek, the product has a heavy-duty, waterproof film that has high impact, puncture and tear resistance to withstand on-site traffic. Importantly, this coating is designed to resist all weather conditions and ensure the floor remain unblemished for 42 days.

This slip-resistant film also protects the boards from contamination by plaster and paint spills during follow-on wet trades. When the roof is on and the room plastered and painted, the film is simply peeled away to reveal a pristine particleboard surface ready to accept the carpet or other floor finish.

During installation on site, the tongue-and-groove boards are jointed with a high quality, fast-setting D4 adhesive and all joints are sealed with a special waterproof tape developed as part of the Caberfix system to prevent moisture and dust penetrating the otherwise vulnerable gaps between the boards.Measuring 2400mm x 600mm and available in 18mm and 22mm thicknesses, Caberdek boards are quick to install - and time is always a significant factor in total cost. The floor's ability to withstand high site traffic and exposure to the elements also speeds up construction as other trades can commence as soon as the floor is finished - even before the roof is completed.

For further information on Norbord, please call 01786 812 225 or visitwww.norbord.co.uk.

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With compliments:
Alison Relf
Taylor Alden Ltd
Unit 2, Temple Place
247 The Broadway
London
SW19 1SD
Tel: 020 8543 3866
Email: alison@tayloralden.co.uk